Detroit's Patrick Eaves greets Toronto's Dion Phaneuf in the first period. Eaves was later knocked out of the game. / Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Detroit Free Press Sports Writer

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The Detroit Red Wings lost one guy before the game, another one during the first period. Why should the Winter Classic be any different.

Patrick Eaves left in the first period of today’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs at Michigan Stadium, after a nasty hit sent him into the boards. General manager Ken Holland told the Free Press that Eaves didn’t suffer anything broken, but he will need to be evaluated for a possible concussion. Eaves had a concussion following a broken jaw in December 2011.

The Wings didn’t have Darren Helm available either, as he missed the game with a sore groin. Helm is considered day-to-day, but groin injuries tend to take a week to 10 days.

Helm had only just returned one game earlier from a shoulder injury that had cost him three weeks. He made his season debut Nov. 2 at Edmonton, after various injuries limited him to one game the previous 18 months

The Wings don’t play again until Saturday at Dallas; maybe Helm feels better by the weekend. The Wings need his speed, and his physicality. They also miss him simply for being a center, because without him they had to mostly play Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg on separate lines.

It was a dirty, retaliation hit by Joffrey Lupul that felled Eaves, who Lupul cross-checked in the neck area sending him into the boards. Eaves had to be helped off gingerly, and faced a long, cold walk to the tunnel to the locker room. Lupul is almost certain to face a suspension of around three games.

■IN ATTENDANCE:Jonathan Ericsson walked out of the tunnel at Michigan Stadium, stopping to pose for a picture with fans. He was disappointed he had to miss the game, but he’s out at least through mid-January with bruised ribs. Stephen Weiss also missed the game, having undergo hernia surgery Dec. 23.

“It was not the easiest couple of days,” Weiss said. “This is something that’s been on the radar, since last summer, to be honest. It was tough not to be able to play, but sometimes some things are out of your control.” Weiss is aiming to be ready to play after the Olympic break, at the end of February.